HS BASE: Royal is hot and so is Buckel

Cody Buckel is off to a great start for Royal of Simi Valley, which is 6-0 and has outscored opponents 60-5 heading into a Marmonte League game today at 3:15 p.m. against visiting Newbury Park (5-1).

Buckel, a shortstop/pitcher, is batting .435 with two home runs, 10 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 23 at-bats, and he is 3-0 with a 0.54 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 13 innings.

-- Gerry Gittelson